Ice storm warning: Freezing rain expected overnight

A line of freezing rain was expected to impact the Shawnee area overnight with an Ice Storm Warning issued at 6 p.m. Friday for most of central Oklahoma.

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The Shawnee News-Star

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Posted Dec. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 20, 2013 at 11:13 PM

Posted Dec. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 20, 2013 at 11:13 PM

A line of freezing rain was expected to impact the Shawnee area overnight with an Ice Storm Warning issued at 6 p.m. Friday for most of central Oklahoma.

That Ice Storm Warning includes Lincoln, Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties and remains in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Forrest Mitchell, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Norman, said the Ice Storm Warning was expanded Friday to include Pottawatomie County, which was initially anticipated to be in more of a rain-event area.

But with a close borderline of 32 degree areas, new models from the NWS indicated a widespread freezing rain event was to develop and continue through today in areas including Shawnee, with ice accumulations up to one-half inch possible.

Mitchell said most of the ice accumulations for Shawnee would occur between midnight and 7 a.m. today, with freezing rain possible until turning into more of a rain or snow event later today.

“We’re still hopeful temperatures will get above freezing,” by Saturday afternoon, he said.

But until then, icy conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses, were expected as a low of 31 degrees was expected overnight. Ice was already accumulating on windshields and other surfaces Friday night.

Ahead of the precipitation, City of Shawnee Streets Superintendent Frank Loman reported Friday that city street crews were pre-treating bridges and overpasses. Road crews will remain on stand-by as needed throughout the weekend.

The NWS also advises people not to travel in icy road conditions and to be prepared for loss of power with this type of ice storm.

Mitchell said while some snow is also expected, there’s no expectation of snow accumulations.